Control of apparatus governing the passage of cars or vehicles along a railway.



No. 887,290. PATENTED MAY 12 19%. J. D. TAYLOR.

CONTROL OF APPARATUS GOVERNING THE PASSAGE OF (JARS OR VEHICLES ALONG A RAILWAY.

APPLICATION FILED Auc.2a, 1006.

3 SHEETS-SHEE'JI 1.

No. 887,290; PATENTED MAY 12', 1908. J. D. TAYLOR.

CONTROL OF APPARATUS GOVERNING THE PASSAGE OF CARS OR VEHICLES ALONG A RAILWAY.

APPLICATION FILED mums 1 906 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 887,290. PATENTED MAY 12, 1908. J. D. TAYLOR. CONTROL OF APPARATUS GOVERNING THE PASSAGE 0P CARS GR VEHICLES ALONG A RAILWAY APPLICATION FILED AUG. 23. 1906.

8 SHEETS-SHIJET 3.

ii m WENT OFICE.

JOHN-D. TAYLOR. OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITCH AND SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE', PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA.

CQNTROL 0F APPARATUS GOVERNING THE PASSAGE 0F CARS on VEHICLES ALONG A RAILWAY.

Application filed August 2?,

electric motor,'and has for an objectv to prevent a movement of the part or appliance controlhng the passage of cars or trains, be it a switch rail or signal, from one position to another without a preliminary movement of the controlling lever for the part or appliance, irrespective of whether the force tending to move the part .or appliance be mechanical or electrical, the latter due more particularly to accidental or other contact of electrical conductors.

' In the drawings I have illustrated my inventi'on in connection with a railway switch, but it is to be understood that it is not limited to such an application.

I will describe an apparatus for moving a railway switch and a system of control of the usual operation of'such apparatus embodying-my invention and then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of an apparatus for moving switch rails, a system of conductors and devices involved therein for controlling the operation of the apparatus and involving my invention. The positions of the parts of the apparatus and the condition of the circuits of the system and devices involved therein are such as would prevail after a complete operationof the apparatus, etc., to produce a movement of theswitch rails from reverse position to normal position. In other words, the Fig. 1 illustrates the position of parts and condition oi: the circuits and apparatus when the switch rails are in normal position. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the condition of the circuits of the system and devices involved therein upon a preliminary movement of-a- Specification of Letters Patent.

1 troller.

Patented May 12, 1908.

1906. Serial No. 331,712.

nates a portion of a railway track, N a portion of a turnout or crossover, and N a switch for directing cars or trains onto and off the track N The switch N is suitably connected with any of the well known switch and lock movement s, comprising an electric mo.- tor for operating the switch and lock movement. Such portions of the switch and lock movement as are shown are the same as that set forth in my co-pending application, filed April 18, I 1904;, Serial No. 203,645. As shown, the armature A of the motor is connected with a screw S through a clutch C, so that the rotation of the armature may be imparted to the longitudinally moving motion plate K. As stated, this is all set forth in my co-pending application hereinbefore referred to. Also connected with the motion plate K by a suitable connection J is the movable member I of a suitable form of circuit con- The movable member I carries a contact 0 which contacts with the pairs of stationary contacts m, d; n, e'; 0,

The electric motor comprised in the switch and lock apparatus is preferably of the type disclosed in my co -pending application, filed. September 14, 1904; Serial No. 224,421..

That is, it comprises two independent field plication, SerialiNo. 224,421, hereinbefore re-' ferred .to.

:R designates a lever for-controlling the op-;

' other apparatus.

' with the same time that contact U bridges to and y.

movable portions preferably having a loose from normal from w and y. In returning to the :nor-

arrives at v and a,

eration of the switch and lock apparatus connected with the switch rails N. A number of such levers are comprised in, whatis termed in the art, an interlocking machine. In these machines the levers are generally provided with mechanism known in the art as indicating mechanism, which mechanism is actuated to release its lever upon a complete operation of the apparatus" controlled by the lever, thereby permitting the lever to be moved to its final position and release or look through what is known as mechanical interlocking other levers which may control This is all well understood in the art. The indicating mechanism may comprise a locking member Q movable with the lever and provided with shoulders g, g, and a lug 9 a latch L co-acting with the member Q in the usual manner, and an electromagnetic apparatus P, comprising a'centrifuge, of which p, p are the weights thereof. Upon the rotation of the centrifuge, the latch. L is lifted to release the lever. This form of indicating mechanism and its operating mechanism is fully set forth in my. co-pending application filed Jan. 17, 1905',Serial No. 241,473. i

Each controlling lever o erates a circuit controller for controlling t e supply of op erating current to the motor of the switch and lock a paratus, and the indication current. Eaci circuit controller preferably comprises two movable parts, one of which connection between it and-the lever so that certain lost motion will result before it is moved by the lever. T, U, designate the movable arts. The part T is so connected fever as to'always move with it and engages fixed contacts 1*, t and s, a. The

art U, as shown, is connected with the lever y an arm having a slot X, and engages the fixed contacts cc, 1), y, w. The purpose of this loose connection is to; prevent again closing the last indication circuit when the lever is moved to the op osition position. The action is as follows: 11 the movement osition shown in Fig. 1, to the reverse inc icating" position shown in Fig. 2, the contact T starts to move simultaneously with the lever R but the'contact U remains stationary until the lost motion, due to'theslot X, is. taken up. This permits the contact T to pass off the contacts 1" and tbe-' fore the contact U engages v and 90. At the reverse indicating osition, contact T bridges s and u at the eft hand end at the The final movement to reverse carries T tothe right hand end of -s and a and U away ma osition- T is carried oif s and a before U reac es 'w and l but T arrives at the right hand end of r and t at the same time that U- E and E are electro-magnets and l) is a permanent magnet which, together with the movable tongue G and fixed contacts 71,

h ,y' and j form an electro magnetic circuit controller for directly controlling the circuits to the switch operating motor. The

circuits ,of the magnets E and E1 are governed by the controllers T and U, jointly.

The magnets E and E are preferably wound with a large number of turns of small wire having a large resistance, thus hmitrng the current through the magnets to a small amount. I

H is the magnet coil of a relay having 'two windings, one of a few turns of large wire, the other of a large number of turns of small wire. The magnet coil H acts on the lever Z, which with the stop is, forms a circuit controller.

- various (parts current will flow from the positive en of battery 0 through .wire 1, contacts s, T, 11,, wires 6, 8, 13, magnet E, wires 25, 26, magnet E, wires 12, 9', 5, contacts y, U, w, wire 3, indication motor P, and wire 2 to the middle point of battery 0. This current has no effect on the indication motor .P, as it is an induction motor not affected by.

direct current, but it energizes the magnets E and E so that in conjunction with the permanent magnet D they move the tongue G to the side to bridge the contacts h and j, thus closing another circuit so that current flows from wire 8, which, as noted above, is

in connection with 'positive'of battery O,

through wire 11, field coil F, wire 17, contact j, tongue G, contact h wires 15, 18, brush b, armature A, brush 5 wires 27, 28 to negative end of the battery 0. This current drives the armature Ain a direction to reverse the track switch through the intermediate mechanism mentioned above; When the switch mechanism has been moved a short distance the contact 0 will-be made to bridge the contacts '6 and n, thus closing another bran'ch circuit so that current will flow from wire 25, (which'as seen above, is in con.-

nection with positive of battery by wayv of magnet E), through the high resistance coil of magnet H, wire 23, contacts 6, c, n, wire 19, brush'b armature A, brush b, wires27 and 28 to negative ofbattery O. The magnet H being energized -thereb'y lifts the lever Z into contact with'the stop K, thus closing a break in the indication circuit which is finally com".-

pleted when the switch'movement has been completely made andthe. contact- 0 is madeto bridge'the contacts f and'o', as showniin ;;Fig-...3.' The wire 9, which asabove, iscon 1 mg motor.

nected to the middle of the battery through theindication motor P, is then connected by the bridging of the contactsf and 0 through the said contacts, wires 21, 22,. lever Z, stop 7c, wire 24, short coil of magnet H, wires 20 and 19 to the brush b The brush b bears on a ring which is connected to one segmentof the commutator of the armature 1L As the armature A continues to rotate driven by current through the circuit traced above, the brush will be alternately connected to the brushes 5 and 5 that is, it will be alternately connected to conductors leading from the positive and the negative of the battery. An alternating current will thereby be caused to flow through the conductor connecting the'middle of the battery 0 and the brush b which said conductor includes the coils of the indication motor P and the short coil of the magnet H. This current circulating in the .coil of the magnet H causes the lever Z-to'be held against the stop 70 thus maintaining the circuit. Flowing in the coils of the motor P it causes the armature to rotate and the weights 0 and p to diverge and lift the latch L, thus releasing the lever R. The method above mentioned for transforming the battcry current into an alternating current for indication purposes is fully described in my pending application, Serial No. 224,421. The movement of the lever R to its full reverse position separates the contact U from the contacts to and y, thus breaking the rent through the magnets E and E the other path having been broken by the separation of the contacts U, w and y. The deenergizing of the magnets Eand E will allow the tongue G to be pushed away from 'the contact by the spring h, which also serves as contact, thus breaking. the circuit carrying current through the switch operat- The terminal of the magnet E, in the reversed position of the lever, remains in connection with the positive poleof the battery through wires 13, S, 6, contacts a, T, s, and wire 1.

The circuits foreffecting the normal movement of the track switch are similar to those above described. The current flows through the magnets E and E in the opposite direction to thatfor effecting the reverse movement, that'is, it enters at E and leaves at E. This causes the tongue-Gto bridge j -and 71. closes a circuit on the field tate in the opposite direction to that for'eiifooting the reverse" movement. In the normal position of the lever as shown in Fig. 1 the terminal of the magnet E remains itkCOnllGCt-iOII with thepositive pole of the battery through wires 12, 9,-7, contacts 15, T,

r, andwire 1.

li, Wilt ti v a mechanical force-naappliedtothe switch operating mechanisnr tending to move it away from normal position, it may respond to the force until it has been moved 1e apparatus as shown in .Fig'. 1,

far enough to cause thecontact c to bridge the contacts 6 and n which should occur be fore the lock bolt has been withdrawn. This contact being made a current will flow from wire 9 through magnet E wire 26, long to bridge the contacts y" and 71- and current will flow from wire 9 through wire 10, field coil F wire 16, contacts j, G, h, wires 14,

This current through the magnet '18, brush 5, armature A, brush b wires 27 i and 28 to negative of battery. rent will cause the switch to be brought back to normal position. It can readily This curbe seen that the same measure of protection is present in the reverse position of the switch.

It with the apparatus as shown in Fig. a charged operating wire, not'carrying current, of some other switch should. become acci' dcntally connected with the wire 8 at any point, no efi'ect would be produced because both terminals of the magnets E, E would then be connected to points of equal poten'- tial. If the wire accidentally connected to the wire 8 shouldbe carryin current at the time, its potential would be lower than that of the wire 9 which is not carrying current, so that a current would flow from the wire 9 through wire 12, magnet E, wires 26, 25, magnet E, and wire 13 to wire 8. This current is in the direction of the normal operating current and, would, if strong enough, cause the tongue G to bridge the contacts 1' and hand close the" normal operating cir cuit through the'motor A, causing the armature A to rotate in the'direction it had in making the normal movement. As the clutch C is at this time disengaged for the normal rotation, no eflectis produced other than to 1dl v rotate the armature A. If the wire 8 should become connected to a wire from the negative of the battery, the last mentioned. results would evidently errsue. No wire in the system could have a higher potential thanthe wire 9 as the wire 9 is connected to the positive ofthe battery" and is not carrying current. I 1

If the wire 9 or any of the connect ons should be brokenand a wire either positively or negatively charged should be con nected to-wire 8 no effect would be produced as in that case the te minal of E would "be disconnected from battery so that no current could flow through E, E The only combination of conditions that could cause an imroper movement is, separation, ofv wire 9 rom positive of battery and connection With negative, and the connection of wire- 8 with positive, three things quite improbable 1 of simultaneous accidental occurrence.

:fiow'through armature A, but not through either field coil. and there would'be no field magnetism to produce a torsional force ex -"ceptresidual magnetisin'and that would be If a positively charged wire should be connected to wires 14,, 15 or 18, a current would the result ofthe last opeating current; Consequently, if it were strong enough to cause rotation, this rotation would be in the direcefi'ect-o'n the switch. t What I claim as In inventionand desire to secure by Letters atent is: v 5 1. The combination wit-h an apparatus to tion of the last movement and would have no moving a railway part or appliance comprising a motor, a source of current, and an operating wire and an indication wire, of an electro-magnetic device forcontrolling the current to the-motor, a circuit comprising the said operating and indication. wires and the coils of said electro-magnetic device, a lever,

and a circuit controller actuated by the lever for controlling the,current in said circuit.

2.- The combination with an apparatus for movlng a railway part or appliance comprising a motor, a source of current, and an opercrating. wire and an indication wire, of a polarized electromagnetic device for controlling the current'to the motor, a circuit comprising the said operating and indication wires and the coils of the said polarized electro-magnetic device, a lever, and a pole changer actuated by the lever for reversing the current in said circuit.

3. The combination with an apparatus for moving a railway part or appliance, comprising a motor, a source of current, an operating wire, an indication wire, and a common wire, of an clectro-magnetic device for controlling the current to the motor, a circuit comprising the said operating and indicationwires and the coils of the said clcctro-magnetic device, a circuit comprising the said operating wire, the common wire, and the motor, a lever, and a circuit controller actuated by the lever for controlling the current in said circuits;

4. The combination with an apparatus for moving a railway part or appliance comprising a motor, a source of current, an operating wire, an indication wire, and a common wire,

of a polarized electro-magnetic device {or controlling the current t the motor, a 'c1r-.

cuit comprising the-operating wire, the indi cation wire, and "the coils of said polarized device, a, circuit comprising one of said oper-' atmg wires, the common wire and the motor,

a lever, and a pole changer actuated by the lever 'for' controlling the current in said cirouits.

' 5. In combination with an apparatus comprising an electric motor for moving a railway part or appliance, a source'of current supply, a circuit controller and operating lever, circuits extending between said source,

circuit controller and motor, an electro-magnetic device comprising a polarized armature included in said circuits and said polarized armature controlling branch circuits including the motor, an electro-magnet having two windings also included in said circuits and operating a circuit controller controlling indication circuits.

-6. In combination with an apparatus comprlslng arr-electric motor for moving a railway part or appliance, a source of current 7. In combination with an apparatus com prising an electric motor formoving a railway part or appliance, a source of current supply, a lever operating said circuit control ler, an indicating mechanism for said lever, indicating circuits, anelectro-magnetic.apparatus comprising a polarized armature and spring contacts with which it alternately engages, circuit-s controlled by the saidarmature and including the source of supply and motor, an electrO-magnet operating a circuit controller in the indicating circuits, and other circuits including the circuit controller oper-v ated by the lever the electro-magnets of the ele-ctro-magnetic apparatus, the electromagnetand source of current supply, which-last mentioned circuits are opened and closed at one point by-the circuit controller operated by the lever and at'another point'by the said electro-mstgnet. j

Intestimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribed Witnesses.

JOHN DQTAYL R. Witnesses:

' W."W'.OOLEMAN, W. .L. MoDAN'I L, 

